In jail, waiting to receive ashes

By Abe Levy :
March 5, 2014
: Updated: March 5, 2014 4:26pm

Daniel Lozano (center) and Juan Torres read a prayer as inmates at the Bexar County Jail come forward to receive the imposition of ashes on March 5, 2014.

Photo By TOM REEL

Daniel Lozano (left) and Juan Torres talk with individuals as inmates at the Bexar County Jail come forward to receive the imposition of ashes on March 5, 2014.

Photo By TOM REEL

Juan Torres, a volunteer with Sister Teresa Carter, reaches out to administer as inmates at the Bexar County Jail come forward to receive the imposition of ashes on March 5, 2014. Daniel Lozano (left) also was on hand to assist.

Photo By TOM REEL

Juan Torres applies ashes as inmates at the Bexar County Jail come forward to receive the imposition of ashes on March 5, 2014.

Photo By TOM REEL

Juan Torres applies ashes as inmates at the Bexar County Jail come forward to receive the imposition of ashes on March 5, 2014.

Photo By TOM REEL

Prayers are read by a contrite group as inmates at the Bexar County Jail come forward to receive the imposition of ashes on March 5, 2014.

Photo By TOM REEL

Juan Torres embraces individuals as inmates at the Bexar County Jail come forward to receive the imposition of ashes on March 5, 2014.

Photo By TOM REEL

Gabriel Boudreau contemplates the moment after inmates at the Bexar County Jail presented themselves to receive the imposition of ashes on March 5, 2014.

Photo By TOM REEL

Sister Teresa Carter captures the attention of a group as inmates at the Bexar County Jail come forward to receive the imposition of ashes on March 5, 2014.

Photo By TOM REEL

Daniel Lozano readies a prayer as inmates at the Bexar County Jail come forward to receive the imposition of ashes on March 5, 2014.

Photo By TOM REEL

Sister Teresa Carter counsels a group as inmates at the Bexar County Jail come forward to receive the imposition of ashes on March 5, 2014.

Photo By TOM REEL

Juan Torres (left) and Daniel Lozano walk down a long hallway to a cell pod area to administer ashes as inmates at the Bexar County Jail come forward to receive the imposition of ashes on March 5, 2014.

SAN ANTONIO — Sister Teresa Carter and two volunteer lay ministers cleared X-ray scanners, navigated hallways under video surveillance and ducked through iron-barred entrances into cell rooms and common areas to daub inmates' foreheads with ashes.

“It's not automatic, but hopefully, the ashes are an outward sign reminding them of an inner change — from anger to forgiveness, hate to love,” said Carter, chaplaincy director for Chrysalis Ministries, formerly the Bexar County Detention Ministries, which offers the ancient ritual every year at the jail.

Dressed in orange or tan jump suits, inmates lined up to answer day's question: “Will you turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel?”

“I want to do nothing but good from here on out,” said Walter Galik, 24, who spent his birthday and most of the new year in jail awaiting a court date for accusations of drug possession. “This just shows us we're remembered. We're not forgotten.”